January - Volume 12, Number 1 (2024)
SALTWATER STRUGGLE: INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON RED MANGROVES
Lawrence Thomas Anderson
Mangroves, comprising diverse species, serve as the predominant woody vegetation in intertidal zones along tropical and subtropical coastlines globally. This unique habitat is characterized by various physical features, with a prominent salinity gradient from freshwater to seawater, as extensively documented by Odum et al. (1982). The salinity gradient, a pivotal attribute of mangrove ecosystems, has been acknowledged for its role as a potential stressor and a key regulator of physiological processes, including growth, height, survival, and zonation patterns (Lin and Sternberg, 1993).This comprehensive review delves into the intricate relationship between mangroves and the salinity gradient, shedding light on the profound...
HOOF PRINTS OF HERITAGE: PHENOTYPIC EXAMINATION OF INDIGENOUS NGUNI CATTLE GROWTH ZIMBABWE
Victor Sipho Dlamini, Catherine Niazi Mangena
The coefficient of variation (CV) and coefficient of correlation (r) are integral tools in quantifying and understanding the variation and interdependence of economic traits within populations. This study elucidates the significance of these measures in evaluating the variation in daily gain among livestock species, exemplifying the application of CV in discerning differences in growth patterns. The coefficient of correlation (r) is introduced as a valuable metric gauging the degree of association between two variables, providing insights into the tandem movement of traits. The importance of discerning relationships between growth traits in cattle breeds is underscored, emphasizing the need for breeders...
SYNERGIZING SORGHUM AND COWPEA: UNRAVELING YIELD DYNAMICS IN STRIGA-INFESTED FIELDS
Halima Sani Abdullahi, Yusuf Bello Musa
Striga, the prominent plant parasite in Africa, stands as a formidable threat to agricultural productivity, causing significant economic repercussions across the continent. This parasitic menace inflicts staggering losses of up to 40 percent on crops, with grain production compromised across 44 million hectares, constituting 3.2% of the world's arable land. The insidious nature of Striga is underscored by its seeds, the primary source of inoculum, with each plant prolifically producing approximately 10,000 or more seeds. These seeds, measuring a mere 200 microns wide by 300 microns long and weighing 10-5 grams, pose a persistent challenge to crop health (Pieterse and...
FROM HAY TO HARMONY: UNVEILING THE NUTRITIONAL DYNAMICS OF UREA-SUPPLEMENTED AND CASSAVA-ENRICHED DIETS
Ana Carolina Pereira da Silva, Carlos Roberto Santos Oliveira
Ruminants, distinguished by their remarkable capacity to derive nutrients from fibrous feeds, play a crucial role in addressing the nutritional challenges prevalent in developing tropical regions. In these areas, optimizing natural resource utilization is imperative, and the unique digestive capabilities of ruminants present a promising avenue. The majority of organic matter (OM) in tropical forage exists as cell wall carbohydrates, predominantly cellulose and hemicellulose. However, the rumen degradation of these carbohydrates, being slower and less extensive compared to sucrose or starch, poses challenges for efficient nutrient extraction (Van Soest, 1994). The nutritional landscape of mature tropical grasses is further complicated...